HKU Business School probes admissions scam

Eunice Lam

The University of Hong Kong's Business School has launched a full probe on "a small number" of students who are believed to have submitted false documents when applying for admission.

This came after it was alleged in mainland social media Xiaohongshu that the school suspected some postgraduate students fabricated academic qualifications and requested proof of their qualifications for "annual checking."

In reply to media inquiries, the Business School said a comprehensive investigation is underway and it has discovered certain agencies - including those offering "guaranteed" admission - have been involved in fabricating application materials.

"While we understand that securing a place in a top graduate program is not easy, it is regrettable that this competition has attracted individuals who resort to deceitful means in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage," it said. "We unequivocally condemn any acts of dishonesty and reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy towards any form of academic misconduct."

Once sufficient evidence is found, action will be taken to rescind admission offers, nullify enrolment and refer these cases to legal authorities. "If any agencies are found to be complicit, we will cooperate with the relevant legal authorities to ensure they are held accountable." it added.

According to a WeChat dialogue screen capture posted on local forum LIHKG on Monday, someone claiming to graduate soon said the school recently reviewed the qualifications he submitted during admission.

The student claimed that an agency had guaranteed an admission offer from HKU through fabricating college transcripts, as applicants were previously allowed to submit official transcripts and certificates by mail.

The Business School, which offers eight one-year taught master's programs with tuition fees from HK$360,000 to HK$462,000, is believed to have asked some 300 master's students to re-submit their academic qualifications through their alma mater, according to the WeChat screenshot.

Lawmaker Lillian Kwok Ling-lai, shocked over the incident, urged the Education Bureau and HKU to take up the matter seriously, condemning the act of fabricating qualifications as "shameful" and a "fraud" violating one's integrity.

"Without prejudice to the existing accreditation system, authorities should require all qualifications obtained outside Hong Kong to be verified by the Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ), before they can apply for working or studying in Hong Kong," Kwok said.

She added academic qualifications, student status and relevant files of mainland students can also be checked on the Ministry of Education's China Higher Education Student Information website.

Some universities, including Polytechnic University and City University, require taught master's program applicants with degrees awarded in the mainland to either attach their online verification report of higher education degree certificates or input online verification codes of their qualifications when filling out the application forms online.

Chinese University's graduate school said applicants who hold degrees awarded by overseas universities by distance learning or by completing the program in a short duration may be required to provide an assessment report from the HKCAAVQ.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com